Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 17, mm.

H. B. HULL ET AL.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 30. 1934 M f 102 \d 109 i 10; U 06 l INVENTOR. Harry B. Hu

Y Richard 6. Get/y/er ATTOZZEYY Patented Aug. 117, 3&3?

UHTD STTS PTNT FEE nsraroaaarime armanros Application 2 Claims.

This, invention relates to refrigeration.

It is an object of this invention to provide a refrigerator with an improved means for preventing dehydration of foods therein.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in perspective and partly in cross-section, showing the' form now preferred; and

Fig. 2 is a view of a slightly modified portion of Fig. 1.

In practicing this invention, a cabinet I80 is provided with a food storage compartment If. A cooling unit is provided for maintaining proper temperatures in this compartment. This cooling unit may include an air cooling section I02 and an ice-making section I03. These sections may be formed of metal sheets properly welded together to form hollow passageways for the refrigerant.

Means for humidifying the air in the compartment IDI is provided, and this may take the form of a sump we placed in the bottom wall of the compartment IOI. A purifier I85, which may be a cake of activated charcoal, is placed in the sump I06. An air moistener is connected to this sump. Thus a water sprayer is connected with-the sump I95, and takes the form of a rotating cone I06 dipping the water therein and being rotated by motor I09 energized from leads III). Baflies I08 surround the cone I06 in such a manner that water sprayed by the cone impinges on the'bafiles IIIB'and prevents undue splashing of the contents of the food compartment IUI. The air flowing in contact with the air cooling section I02 deposits moisture on this section which drips into a trough I II and fiows through the connection II2 into the sump me. Any ex-,

cess moisture overflows through the pipe I I3 into an evaporator I It placed outside of the compartv cient amount of water has been evaporated the flow of current becomes so small or ceases and thus an automatic control of the evaporation of water is provided.- The vapors created in the November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,382 Renewed August 5, 1936 drip water evaporator flow to the outside atmosphere through openings H ll).

A refrigerant liquefying unit H5 is provided. This may include a compressor IIB, condenser IIl, receiver H8 and motor II9 which drives the 5 compressor H6. Liquid refrigerant flows from the unit I I5 through the pipe I to an automatic expansion valve IZI. From thence expanded refrigerant flows through the hollow spaces of the section I63 and from thence to the hollow spacesof the section I02. The evaporated refrigerant returns to the unit H5 through the pipe I2 3.

Suitable trays I22 may be placed in the section I03. The hollow passageways in the section I02 may be made in the form of a zigzag passageway as shown at I23.

An automatic control for the unit H5 is provided. This may take, the form of a bulb I25 connected to a bellows I26 which actuates a snap switch I27 for the starting and stopping of the motor no.

In the operation of the device, the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator maintains the section Iii-3 at a freezing temperature and the section I92 at a defrosting temperature such that no frost accumulates on the section I02, or, if frost does accumulate thereon, it melts with each idle period of the unit I I5. The air in flowing over the evaporator is dehumidified by the condensation of moisture therefrom; but the air 30 is rehumidif ied by the action of the sprayer I05 which thus'restores moisture to the air. The purifier I05 maintains the water in proper condition.

In themodification shown in Fig. 2, the sump is provided with a slightly different sprayer which may take the form of a blower I30 driven by a motor I3I. The blower I30 is connected to a nozzle I32 which is provided with a water pipe I33 connected to the sump. The suction action injects water into the air jet as it emerges at I32 as will be readily apparent. The intake for the fan I3!) may be either from outside of the food compartment or from inside as is desired. The other portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 4r may be substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, an enclosure having a unit therein which dehumidifies air within the enclo sure, means for collecting water from said unit,

2 aosaeco means for removing impurities from the collected water, and means including a rotatable cone in contact with the purified water for spraying same into air within the enclosure to rehumidify the air therein.

2. In combination, an enclosure having a unit therein which dehumidifies air within the enclosure, means for collecting water from said wunit, means for removing impurities from the collected water, means including a rotatable cone incontact with the purified water for spraying same into air within the enclosure to rehumidify the air therein, and means for evaporating excess water collected from said unit to atmosphere outside said enclosure.

HARRY B. HULL. RICHARD S. GAUGLER 

